Global Chartered Institute of Energy Management Canada Inaugurates Pioneer Fellows, Calls for Professionalism
By Genesis ogiri
Abuja, Nigeria – The Global Chartered Institute of Energy Management (GCIEM), Canada, has formally inaugurated its Pioneer Fellowship and Honours Cohort, marking a historic milestone in the Institute’s expansion into Nigeria and the broader African energy landscape. The groundbreaking ceremony gathered influential stakeholders, policymakers, and technical experts in a resplendent celebration of excellence, integrity, and energy leadership.
Held at the illustrious Carlton Swiss Hotel, Utako, Abuja, the event highlighted the strategic significance of strengthening energy governance in Nigeria. With the theme “Challenges of the Energy Sector in Nigeria’s Economy,” the ceremony provided a critical platform for diagnosing longstanding weaknesses in the nation’s energy framework while spotlighting a renewed commitment to reform-driven leadership.
Delivering the keynote Dr. Chinedu Ogwus, a globally respected energy strategist with 25 years at TotalEnergies, warned that Nigeria’s energy sector is at a critical crossroads. He highlighted structural bottlenecks, regulatory gaps, and decaying infrastructure that impede growth, urging urgent, science-driven, and policy-backed interventions to diversify the energy mix, scale up solar, wind, and hydro systems, and attract both local and foreign investment.
Dr. Ogwus called for dedicated funding for the oil and gas sector to ensure a smooth energy transition while positioning Nigeria as a leader in renewable energy. He stressed the need for policies promoting local manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, along with the development of rare earth minerals. Advocating feed-in tariffs and credit guarantees to entice investors, he noted that these measures would create jobs, drive technology transfer, and bolster industrial diversification, framing energy transition as a national strategic imperative.
Speaking to Newsway Reporters, Prof. Stephen Lazi, Africa President of GCIEM, celebrated the newly inducted Pioneer Fellows, emphasizing that they represent the first line of global energy influencers emerging from the Institute’s African footprint. “These Pioneer Fellows are now global policy contributors. They possess the leverage, competence, and strategic positioning to shape energy matters within Nigeria and beyond,” he stated confidently.
Prof. Lazi lamented the decades-long deterioration of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, noting that the sector has endured persistent structural decline over several decades. He explained that his decision to serve as the Institute’s Africa Focal Point was motivated by a vision to reposition Nigeria’s energy architecture for global competitiveness. “With GCIEM now fully established in Nigeria, we anticipate transformative improvements that will elevate the sector to enviable heights,” he affirmed, underscoring the Institute’s commitment to driving sustainable reforms.
He further announced that the induction will be extended to South Africa next year, with additional African countries lined up. Describing the initiative as a continental reawakening, Prof. Lazi highlighted the mission to raise a young, dynamic generation that will eventually assume roles as Energy Commissioners, Ministers, and global sector influencers.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s reform journey, Prof. Lazi credited former President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), calling it a major corrective step in Nigeria’s energy history. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the courageous removal of fuel subsidy, stating that he had advocated for subsidy removal since 2010. According to him, the policy is gradually yielding long-term economic benefits.
A total of twelve (12) Pioneer Apostle Members were inducted into the Institute’s Fellowship class—forming the foundational leadership nucleus of GCIEM’s operations in Nigeria. These pioneers now serve as the Institute’s premier ambassadors in the region, entrusted with translating global energy standards into local impact, driving innovation, and catalyzing sector transformation.
Prof. Stephen Lazi charged the awardees to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethical leadership, highlighting that their role extends beyond individual achievement. He emphasized that as Pioneer Fellows, they are now custodians of best practices, responsible for influencing policy, fostering transparency, and driving institutional reforms within Nigeria’s energy sector.
According to him, their ethical conduct and unwavering commitment to integrity would serve as a model for emerging professionals, inspire confidence among stakeholders, and reinforce public trust in the governance of the nation’s critical energy resources. He further noted that upholding these standards is essential not only for personal excellence but also for the sustainable growth, innovation, and global competitiveness of Africa’s energy landscape.
A central pillar of the induction was the reaffirmation of integrity as the moral compass of professional service. GCIEM leadership stressed that the Pioneer Fellows must uphold the highest ethical standards, promote accountability, strengthen institutional credibility, and ensure that Nigeria’s energy resources are managed with transparency and national responsibility. Integrity, they emphasized, remains the currency of sustainable leadership.
The event concluded with high-level discussions among regulators, academics, industry innovators, and policy thinkers who expressed optimism about the emerging wave of energy leadership. Their deliberations underscored the urgent need for diversification, regulatory discipline, human capital development, and long-term planning to reposition Nigeria for a stable energy future.
As the Pioneer Fellows took their oaths, one message resonated across the hall: Africa’s next chapter of energy leadership has begun—driven by pioneers equipped with knowledge, strengthened by integrity, and committed to transforming the continent’s energy destiny.
